Re: Forgotten cars of the last 35 years

 Mark - no, I didn't, unfortunately. The RS2000 actually isn't too shabby-looking, especially compared to, say, a Gumpert Apollo. I just generally hope that one of those small East German manufacturers can actually make their business work for in a sustainable way. There have been too many failed attempts during the past two decades, so the new Melkus would be a welcome change. 

Batty - The original Melkus actually was a fast car by East German standards! You mustn't forget that people were driving around in Trabants powered by some mighty 26hp. Or, if they knew people, in 45hp Wartburgs. And if they were the people those people knew, they might even get a proper performance Lada...

Which reminds me of the story of the freedom campaigner living in Leipzig in the 1980s, who was given a Golf II by his West German grandmother. The Golf (no GTI by any means!) was then regularly used by him and his freedom movement friends as a getaway car, because the East German police had no chance whatsoever to keep up with it. 

Re: Forgotten cars of the last 35 years

Batty said:

No it was the Beretta that I was thinking. I'd say that would make it a tie, no?

Do you also know of the secret twin of the same time?

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@ Batty 

I'd call it two good little ( well maybe not so little ) Italian boys that know their stuff ! ( much better than a tie ) Too bad Enzo didn't sell the concept to Beretta . Then I could be driving to the Clays Range in my Beretta 184 with my Beretta Silver Snipe in the trunk . Almost as cool as when I had the Alfetta with Campagnolo wheels with my Colnago with Campagnolo components on the roof  . As well as much cooler than showing up at the Clays range in my MINI with said Beretta in the back . Much as I love my MINI 

@Seant ; The joke   

Re: Forgotten cars of the last 35 years

seant said:

 That said, I am seriously considering trying a set of XWXs again.

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I'd be delighted to learn of the differences once you can make direct comparisons!

Re: Forgotten cars of the last 35 years

There will always be a place in my heart for the Mk2 Scirocco storm, particularly in Blue. Was luckily able to get one back in 1995, when even then they were fetching strong money, way more than i had to spend on a 2nd car runabout and weekend hobby. saw a very cheap one for sale that had hung about for ages and decided it might not be too much of a basket case as for the money it would need some work.Bloke on phone seemed a bit put out when i asked what needed doing and later as we drove through the electric security gates of the riverside mews apartments and saw this absolutly mint storm, me and my vw enthusiast mate could barely contain ourselves.Had it for three years and then the missus job change and a house move meant it had to go before value was lost from it.

For whatever reason, i never took many photos of the car though there is footage of us going up various drag strips at vw days, but its on 1990's mini cassetes which need an adaptor for vhs and i cant find it. Been trying to remember the number plate for the last few years, without success and then this week, chatting to same bloke on facebook, who came with me to collect the car, mentioned this and in 30 secs he'd sent me a pic . Its now my screen saver. ..Heres the thing though......There is a Storm for sale on a couple of enthusiast sites, pretty much a minter, in fact it could have been my old one with different plates. Bloke cant sell it. He has another VW project to crack on with. Wanted £1500 and now its £1000 ono.. I reckon its £800. Trouble is, its 100 odd miles away, its xmas and i'm not driving for a few months...i have a plan though.

My old one below.

Re: Forgotten cars of the last 35 years

And here is the 1976-1984 Audi 100. It´s gloriously boxy but has a debonair ivy-green interior. How jolly but still greyer than the equivalents from France and Italy.